Football pump



Feb. 23, 1932; A. M. ICKRATH FOOTBALL PUMP Filed Nov. 25; 1929 Patented Feb. 23, 1332 ALFRED M. IUKRATH, O13 BRIDGEPOR-T, OGNNEGTICUT, AS IGNR TO BRIDGEPORT BRASS CGIJL'PANY, O1 BRIDGEPORT, CGHNECTICUT FOGTBALL PUIWP Application filed November 25, 1929.

My invention relates to a football pump and more especially to a nipple for connecting the pump to the bladder of a football.

The invention relates particularly to a pump for a football wherein the bladder is provided with a valve for preventing the escape of air. These valves generally comprise a stem embedded in the rubber of the bladder or otherwise attached thereto, and a valve insides of the type used in automobile tires.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a relatively simple form of nipple which may be readily connected to a pump barrel or the like, and to a valve stem.

Another object of the invention is to provide an arrangement wherein the valve of the valve insides is unseated during the inflation or" the bladder so that air may readily pass from the pump into the bladder.

A further object of the invention is to irovide a nipple wherein the escape of air irom the bladder is prevented during the inflation thereof.

To these and other ends, the invention consists of the novel "features and combination of parts to he hereinafter described and claimed.

The single figure of the drawing shows an elevational view in section of a football pump, according to my invention.

Referring to the drawing in which 1 have illustrated my invention by showing a pretered embodiment of the same, the reference numeral indicates, in general, a pump having a nipple 11 attached thereto and providing for the connection of pump 10 to the valve stem 12 of bladder 13. Pump 10 may be of any usual form and as shown herein comprises a barrel 1 1 threaded at its upper end 15 for the reception of cap 16 and provided at its lower end with a threaded axial opening 17 for the reception of the reduced threaded end 18 of nipple 11.

Pump 10 is provided with the usual rod 19, on the upper end of which a handle 20 is mounted in any suitable or usual manner. The lower end of rod 19 is threaded at 21 for the reception of nuts 22 and 23 which serve to Serial No. 409,554.

clamp the usual cup-shaped'leather packing bet veen washers 25 and 26.

Nipple 11 is provided with an axial bore 27 for the passage of air to the bladder 13, and is threaded at its lower end 28 for reception in valve stem 12. Mounted in valve stem 12 is valve insides 29 which may be of any suitable type, as, for example, those shown in the patents to Schweinert, No. 1,171,147, February 8, 1916, and Greenwald, No. 1,255,411, February 5, 1918, and which as shown is provided With a valve stem or rod 30 having near its end laterally extending wings 31. The lower end of nipple 11 isspunor otherwise directedinwardly, as at 32, and engages wings 31 to depress valve rod 30 and to unseat valve 3 so that air may pass freely into bladder 13.

In order to prevent the return flow of air from bladder 13 into pump 10 during the intake stroke of the latter, a check valve 34 is provided in the bore 27 of nipple 11, the upper end of bore 27 being reduced, as at 35, and providing a seat 36 on which valve 34 is received during the intake stroke. In order to provide for the free passage of air through the nipple 11, valve 34: is of slightly less diameter than the enlarged part of bore 27, the nipple being indented at diametrically opposite points, at 37 to limit the movement of valve 34: away from seat 36 and to prevent the valve from lodging against the inwardly spun. lower end of the nipple.

A. washer 38 of leather or the like is mounted on end 18 of nipple 11 and bears on the lower end of barrel 14 to prevent the escape or" air in and around threaded opening 17, the nipple 11 being enlarged adjacent the end 18 and provided with a number of annular ribs 39, which may be milled, if desired, in order that the nipple may be tightly grasped in the fingers.

While 1 have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that it is not to be limited to all the details shown, but is capable of modification and variation within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claim.

What I claim is:

A nipple for a pump for a football having a valve, said nipple comprising a one-piece tubular member having a bore, said member being threaded at one end for reception in a pump barrel and at the opposite end for reception in a football valve, a ball valve mounted in said bore and freely movable therein, said valve being 01 slightly less diameter than the bore to provide for the passage of air therearound, the bore being reduced adjacent the first-named end to form a valve seat, and the material at the other end of the member being displaced inwardly to engage and unseat the football valve and being indented adjacent said end to limit the movement of the valve away from its seat.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 20th day of November 1929.

ALFRED M. IKRATH. 

